It's past time for common-sense gun control laws

Baby Myla, at two months old

It was 1977 and this Iowa State University student was searching for another class to take.

"Target riflery" fit nicely into the schedule, and I, 19 years old, trotted off to the university's Old Gym to learn about caring for and shooting (1) rifles; and (2) pistols. I turned out to be pretty good in the program and it was one of my most memorable ISU classes.

I tell this to show I have no particular hatred of guns, but it is so clearly past time for our legislators to pass common-sense gun control measures.

I, like many Americans, am appalled and saddened by not one, but two mass shootings in a matter of hours this past weekend. In addition, it was a bloody weekend in Chicago, where some 60 people were shot and seven died.

"Back-to-back nightmares," reads the headlines in Monday's Quad-City Times. As of Sunday, it is reported that 252 people have been killed or injured in a mass shooting incident. This is so far, in 2019. In 2018, 340 people were shot.

In Texas, among those killed were Jordan and Andre Anchondo, who shopped at WalMart with their two-month-old baby. The parents died protecting the child.

This is a scenario I can easily visualize in central Iowa, where our daughter, son-in-law and baby Myla shop together quite often on weekends. Myla, in fact, is why I am writing this blog: I do not want her to grow up in a world without common-sense gun laws on the books.

Currently, most gunmen buy their guns legally, or they get them from their parents. Most shooters are younger, white men.

There are so many mass shootings, non-profit organizations have formed for the survivors. According to a "60 Minutes" report on Sunday, a husband-and-wife duo drives across America, targeting mass shooting events so they can help survivors cope in the horrific aftermath. This is a post-retirement job for the couple as their child died when a gunman shot up a movie theatre in Aurora, Colo.

People like me -- and you -- need to speak up, to promote gun control in this country. Iowans, especially, have numerous chances to visit with future political leaders who are in the state before the caucuses.

To consider:
1. Restore funding to public health officials so they can study the effects of mass shootings on society. Money for the research was revoked by Congress in the 1990s. For more information explore online: https://www.apha.org
2. End the sale of automatic hand guns and rifles, as well as large weapon magazines originally designed for military use. There is no use for such in a peaceful society.
3. Expand background checks to require waiting periods and mental health components.

Steps like these must be taken to protect all Americans, but especially for the future of babies like Myla. At just seven months old, she should be able to grow up in a world not affected by unnecessary violence from persons wielding rifles like the AR-15.

To take action, start by contacting your representatives in Congress:

Dave Loebsack, Iowa, 2nd district U.S. representative: Loebsack.house.gov
Chuck Grassley, Iowa, U.S. Senate: Grassley.senate.gov
Joni Ernst, Iowa, U.S. Senate: Ernst.senate.gov

The blog's author and Myla